Salem County, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 769 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Salem County compares with New Jersey
Salem County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Salem County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Salem County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 101.2 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 66% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.1% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.6% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.2% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.7% | 19.9% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Salem County sits below New Jersey on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Salem County at a glance: 4.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (New Jersey: 1.6).
Overview
Salem County has recorded 769 truck crashes since 2015, with 470 people injured and 33 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 5 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (6.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.3% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across New Jersey.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
2.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-295 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come US-40 (4), SR-77 (3) and 700 New Jersey Turnpike (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
Route planning tips for Salem County fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-295, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Salem County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Salem County) |
|---|---|
| I-295 | 7 |
| US-40 | 4 |
| SR-77 | 3 |
| 700 New Jersey Turnpike | 2 |
| I-95 | 2 |
| CR-540 | 1 |
| CR-553 Centerton Rd | 1 |
| CR-603 Alloway-Woodstown Rd | 1 |
| CR-611 Dutch Row Rd | 1 |
| CR-611 Shirley Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Salem County) |
|---|---|
| I-295 | 125 |
| US-40 | 123 |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 110 |
| Nj 77 | 52 |
| I-295 Secondary | 35 |
| Nj 49 | 27 |
| Us 40 (Harding Highway) | 17 |
| SR-540 | 16 |
Salem County at a glance
| Population | 65,874 |
| Land area | 331.9 sq mi |
| Density | 198 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $86,084 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Salem County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 67 | +135% | 2.8 |
| 2010s | 61 | -9% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 65 | +7% | 3.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 28 to 65. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Salem County
ZIP codes in Salem County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Salem County
How common are truck crashes in Salem County?
Since 2015, 769 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Salem County (470 injured, 33 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Salem County?
I-295 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Salem County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Salem County?
Truck crashes in Salem County peak in October, with 10.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Salem County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 10 reported crashes in Salem County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Salem County compared with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Salem County has 101.2 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Salem County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.